[HANASHIR:12253] Re: question on words. one word, actually.

[Josh Weinberg <joshrwein...>]

Beth,
This tradition came from the third commandment "al tisa et shem elohim lashav" 
or 'don't take God's name in vain...'  Using the word Hashem or writing "G-d" 
come from an attempt to not take God's name in vain, as well as the human 
inability to pronounce the tetragrammaton.  It has become common practice to 
pronounce this 4 letter biblical name as "Adonai" which literally means Lord, 
and - as far as the Refom tradition is concerned - is not gender sensitive.  It 
might be interesting for your discussion to discuss this commandment and see 
what music has done with it and, depending on the age of your participants, 
maybe try and feel around for everyone's own comfortability with this issue.  
Good luck.
Moadim L'simcha,
Josh Weinberg  
 Batiya5723 (at) cs(dot)com wrote:I have been asked to lead a discussion about 
Jewish music and one of the questions has to do with using one of the zillion 
names of God.
Because I am schooled in the Reform tradition it feels okay for me to use -- 
well, let's call it the A-word for now -- in reference to God. But other Jews 
prefer to avoid use of this word by substituting a less, um, loaded word in its 
place; or by doctoring a name by changing a consonant to alter the 
pronounciation and thereby avoid the actual name altogether.
How did this tradition come about? What do people think about it? And can 
anyone recommend a good book that would help be feel better prepared to discuss 
this phenomenon?
Thank you in advance --Beth Hamon 


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